An East Lancashire celebrity is rumoured to have been chosen as the new host for the Big Brother reboot.

AJ Odudu has been ‘dropping hints’ about her involvement in the upcoming reboot, which is coming to ITV later this year.

Speaking to a national news organisation, the former St Bede’s High School pupil responded to speculation that she is the new host.

She said: "I feel like the Big Brother [fans] are really out in full force – it’s incredible!

"I’m taking it all with a pinch of salt. It’s all fun.

"Obviously, I’ve made no secret about how I would love to be considered to host such an iconic comeback, but who knows? You’ll just have to wait and see.”

The speculations continued after AJ appeared in a Saturday Night Takeaway sketch last weekend.

In the sketch she is sitting next to former Big Brother host Davina McCall.

One fan wrote: "I'm taking AJ Odudu standing next to Davina McCall in Saturday Night Takeaway's skit with ‘ITV's biggest stars’ as another clue that she's hosting Big Brother."

ITV announced the return of Big Brother in August 2022.

A new cast of carefully selected housemates, from all walks of life, will take up residence in the world’s most famous reality TV home for up to six weeks, with cameras capturing their every move, and the nation following every twist and turn. 

The action will all play out under the roof of the iconic Big Brother house, which will be given its own contemporary new look ready for this reimagining of the show. Clever tasks, nail-biting nominations and live evictions will be back, with the public once again playing a crucial role, voting throughout the series and ultimately determining the winner, who will walk away with a life changing cash prize. 

Paul Mortimer, director of reality commissioning and acquisitions and controller, ITV2, ITVBe and CITV said: “This refreshed, contemporary new series of Big Brother will contain all the familiar format points that kept viewers engaged and entertained the first time round, but with a brand new look and some additional twists that speak to today’s audience. We’re beyond excited to bring this iconic series to ITV2 and ITVX where it should especially engage with our younger viewers.” 

One of the country’s most iconic and successful reality television franchises, Big Brother first hit screens in the Netherlands in 1999.

Since its debut, over 500 series of the show have aired around the world in over 64 countries and regions.

Globally, the format has maintained huge popularity, 2021 being one of its strongest years yet with 30 productions airing across 25 markets.

 This included high-profile comebacks in Benelux and a celebrity version in Australia, six regional versions in India, a first series Mongolia and continued popularity in Brazil and the US.

In the UK, Big Brother first aired on Channel 4 and ran for a total of 11 series, plus seven series of Celebrity Big Brother and a final special edition series entitled Ultimate Big Brother.

The show subsequently aired for a further 8 series on Channel 5, with an additional 15 celebrity series, before going on hiatus in 2018.

The upcoming 2023 series on ITV2 and ITVX will mark the first time Big Brother returns to UK screens in almost five years.